Girls Saturday Trip

A Saturday in Lawton: Hobby Lobby, Ollie’s & Football Cleats

Today was a GOOD day.

You know those days when you don’t have anything terribly exciting planned, but somehow the day ends up being exactly what you needed? Today was one of those days.

My coworker and friend Sheila and I decided it was time for a little road trip to Lawton, Oklahoma. Our last trip over there together was back in February, so apparently we were overdue for some girl time outside of the workplace!

Our main mission?

Hobby Lobby.

Now, I went into this adventure with a plan. I had a budget of $50, and I was determined to stick to it.

I know. I know.

Me.

Hobby Lobby.

A scrapbook aisle.

And a $50 budget.

You may be wondering if I was feeling okay. 😂

But I did it!

I was actually very proud of myself because I stayed within my budget and got the things I wanted without completely losing my mind in the scrapbook section. That, my friends, is called self-control. I’m pretty sure there should be a trophy for that.

I was also looking for a picture for our bedroom to go with another picture I had already purchased. I wanted something that would coordinate with it, so naturally, that meant I had to inspect approximately 147 pictures before making a decision.

Okay, maybe not 147.

But it felt like it.

Then we headed over to Ollie’s.

This was Sheila’s first Ollie’s experience.

I’m not sure she was completely impressed.

I, however, knew exactly why I was there.

Ghost Energy drinks.

They had a four-pack for $2.99, and that was enough reason for me to make the trip. 😂

Of course, I couldn’t just buy the energy drinks and leave.

That would be completely unreasonable.

I wandered around and found a few other random things because apparently Ollie’s has a magical ability to convince you that things you didn’t know existed five minutes ago are now things you absolutely need.

One thing I did actually need was jelly.

Somehow, we had managed to run completely out of anything resembling jelly or preserves for our toast.

How does a household run out of jelly?

I don’t know.

But apparently ours did.

So I picked up a jar of strawberry preserves.

And a few other things.

And before I knew it, I had spent right at $50 at Ollie’s, too.

Apparently $50 was the theme of the day.

Then came the next mission:

Football cleats.

I was looking for a pair of black football cleats in a child’s size 13 for Lane.

Easy enough, right?

Wrong.

We called three different stores in Lawton.

None of them had football cleats.

Not one.

Hibbet Sports finally told us that we would have to try Altus, Duncan, or Chickasha because those stores carry them.

Mr. C had already called Hibbet Sports in Duncan, and they had a pair.

The price?

$65.

So tomorrow, I’ll be making another little road trip to pick them up.

Because apparently finding a pair of black football cleats in 2026 is harder than finding a parking spot at Hobby Lobby on a Saturday.

😂

After all that shopping, Sheila and I decided we had worked up an appetite. 

We went to the new Red Apple Asian Buffet in Lawton, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

The food was good and fresh, the restaurant was very clean, and the bathroom was actually spotless.

And if you’ve been around long enough, you know that a clean restaurant bathroom deserves its own five-star review. 😂

The buffet and a drink were under $20, so I was happy with that.

I already know I’ll be going back with my friend Cherrie because I think she will really enjoy it.

But honestly, the best part of today wasn’t Hobby Lobby.

It wasn’t Ollie’s.

It wasn’t the Ghost Energy drinks.

And it definitely wasn’t the $65 football cleats.

It was the time Sheila and I spent together.

We laughed.

We shared stories.

We talked.

We wandered around stores.

We enjoyed being away from work for a little while and just being ourselves.

Sheila is one of those people who is just easy to be around. She’s down-to-earth, genuine, and a very good Christian woman. I really enjoy spending time with her.

Sometimes you don’t need a big vacation or an elaborate girls’ trip.

Sometimes you just need a friend, a tank of gas, a little shopping money, and a Saturday in Lawton.

Add in some strawberry preserves and a four-pack of Ghost Energy drinks, and you’ve pretty much got yourself a successful day. 😂

Today was simple.

Today was fun.

And today was exactly what we both needed.

I’m already looking forward to our next adventure.

Although next time, maybe we’ll start with the football cleats.

Because apparently that’s the hardest item on the shopping list! 😂

Warning about me from “Scotty” my Chat GPT assistant

 😂 Ohhh, Karen… you want the “before you meet her, I feel obligated to warn you” version?

Okay. Here goes:

“Listen, before you meet Karen, there are a few things you need to know.

First, she will probably tell you she’s just going to run into Dollar Tree for one thing. Do not believe her. This is how it starts. She will emerge 45 minutes later with a birthday card, a gift bag, craft supplies, something she absolutely did not need, and a story about why every single purchase was justified.

She is also dangerously sentimental. She will keep a handwritten letter, a little note from a grandchild, an old photograph, or some random trinket because ‘it means something to me.’ If you tell her to throw it away, you may have just declared war.

She loves her family loudly. Her grandchildren aren’t simply grandchildren—they are tiny celebrities whose birthdays, visits, personalities, and latest adventures may become the subject of an entire conversation. And if one of them is coming to visit? Forget it. She is planning, cleaning, organizing, preparing snacks, rearranging rooms and probably buying something they don’t need.

She will also tell you she needs to declutter.

This is a lie.

She will talk about decluttering, make a plan to declutter, perhaps even put things into a donation box… and then find something inside that box that suddenly has ‘sentimental value.’

She is a storyteller. Ask her how her weekend was and prepare yourself. You are not getting a three-sentence answer. You are getting the full director’s cut, including where she went, who she saw, what she ate, what somebody said, what she was thinking about while they said it, and probably a completely unrelated story that somehow connects back to the original story.

She also has a dangerous relationship with chocolate, pasta, bread, summer drinks, and anything resembling a good dessert. She may announce that she is going to eat healthier and then immediately begin discussing a recipe that contains cheese, pasta, or something deliciously irresponsible.

And don’t let the sweet personality fool you.

Karen has opinions.

She may be kind, but she isn’t a pushover. If something isn’t right, she’ll eventually say something. She’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, probably several times, but there is a point where the Southern-Oklahoma-nana patience runs out and you discover that sweet lady has a backbone made of steel.

She is also the kind of person who can be having a rough day and still put on a happy face because she doesn’t want everyone else to worry about her.

So here’s the real warning:

If Karen lets you into her life, she will probably genuinely care about you.

She’ll remember things you told her. She’ll check on you. She’ll send you a card. She’ll make you something. She’ll tell you a story when you need to laugh and probably tell you the truth when you need to hear it.

And once you’re considered her person?

Good luck.

You’re stuck with her. ❤️”

Summer Recipes

A Watermelon Summer Dinner: Keeping Cool Without Turning on the Oven

Is anybody else ready for summer to slow down just a little? Don’t get me wrong—I love summertime. I love the sunshine, the longer days, cookouts, fresh produce, and getting outside. But here in Oklahoma, August has a way of reminding you that summer isn’t quite finished with us yet!

When it’s this hot outside, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven and heat up the house. Sometimes a cold dinner, a refreshing drink, and maybe a little time outside is exactly what we need.

And lately I’ve been thinking about doing something a little different: themed summer dinners!

Since I live in an area known as the Watermelon Capital of the World, I think watermelon is the perfect place to start. We have watermelon stands all around us during the summer, and there is just something special about stopping at one and picking out a big, juicy local watermelon.

So I’m thinking about buying a couple of them and having a little Watermelon Summer Dinner.

Now, I realize I’m probably not the first person to ever think of this. 😂 But sometimes the simplest ideas are the most fun!

Imagine sitting outside on a hot summer evening with a cold watermelon drink, a fresh watermelon salad, and a bowl of pasta salad. No oven. No complicated cooking. Just easy food that tastes like summer.

And if I can get the grandbabies involved, even better!

🍉 Fresh Watermelon Cooler

This would be such an easy drink to make, and it would be perfect for a hot afternoon.

You’ll need:

• 4 cups seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1–2 tablespoons honey or sugar, depending on how sweet your watermelon is
• 1 cup cold water
• Ice
• Fresh mint or lime slices for garnish

Directions:

Add the watermelon, lime juice, sweetener, and water to a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour over ice and garnish with a little fresh mint or a lime slice.

You could even make this into a fun activity with the grandbabies and let them help pick the watermelon, add the ingredients, and decorate the glasses.

For the adults, you could make it a little fancy by serving it in a pretty glass with a watermelon wedge on the side.

🍓 Strawberry Lemonade

You can’t go wrong with strawberry lemonade on a hot summer day!

You’ll need:

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 4 cups cold water
• ½–¾ cup sugar, adjusted to taste
• Ice
• Fresh strawberries and lemon slices for garnish

Blend the strawberries with a little of the water until smooth. Pour the mixture into a pitcher and add the lemon juice, remaining water, and sugar. Stir well and chill.

Serve over plenty of ice with strawberry and lemon slices.

There is just something about strawberry lemonade that makes you feel like you should be sitting on a porch somewhere, isn’t there?

🍉 Easy Summer Watermelon Salad

Now let’s talk about the star of our dinner!

This watermelon salad is fresh, colorful, and requires absolutely no cooking.

You’ll need:

• 4 cups watermelon, cubed
• 1 cup cucumber, sliced or chopped
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• A handful of fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• A pinch of salt

Add the watermelon, cucumber, feta, and mint to a large bowl.

Whisk together the lime juice and honey and drizzle it over the salad. Give everything a gentle toss and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

The sweet watermelon, cool cucumber, salty feta, and fresh mint make such a good combination.

And look how pretty it is! Sometimes food really can be as pretty as it is delicious.

🥗 Easy Summer Pasta Salad

Of course, we need something a little more filling for dinner, so pasta salad is going on the menu too.

You’ll need:

• 12 ounces rotini or bow-tie pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• ½ cup red onion, diced
• ½ cup black olives
• ½ cup mozzarella pearls or cubed cheese
• ½ cup Italian dressing
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: chopped pepperoni, chicken, or salami

Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain and rinse it under cold water.

Add the pasta, vegetables, olives, and cheese to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over everything and toss until well combined.

Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

And here’s the beauty of pasta salad: you can change it up depending on what you have in the refrigerator. Add some leftover grilled chicken, throw in some bell peppers, use whatever vegetables you have on hand, or make it completely meat-free.

That’s my kind of recipe!

🍉 A Little Summer Dinner Theme

Now I’m thinking this could actually become a fun little tradition around our house.

Imagine a table with a big bowl of watermelon salad, a colorful pasta salad, a pitcher of watermelon cooler, and maybe a pitcher of strawberry lemonade sitting right beside it.

Add some paper plates, a few outdoor games, and some grandbabies running around, and you’ve got yourself a pretty great summer evening.

And that’s what I love about the idea of themed dinners. They don’t have to be complicated or expensive. You can pick one ingredient or one theme and build a simple meal around it.

Maybe next time it could be a taco night, an ice cream night, a breakfast-for-dinner night, or even an old-fashioned picnic dinner.

I’m realizing that sometimes we get so caught up in our everyday routines that we forget to make ordinary evenings special.

Maybe that’s something I need to work on.

Instead of waiting for a holiday, birthday, or special occasion, why not make a random Tuesday night a little celebration?

Especially when it involves watermelon. 🍉

So now I’m curious…

Do you have any summer food traditions at your house?

Maybe it’s a particular recipe you make every summer, an annual cookout, homemade ice cream, a family picnic, or something completely unique to your family.

We don’t really have many food traditions around our house, but I’m thinking it might be time to start a few.

And if I can keep the oven turned off while I’m doing it, that’s even better!

Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog! Be sure and leave me some comments down below about what kind of summer food traditions you have.

Have a great day!

Karen